Darkness and Light

I want to send my heartfelt prayers to Rob and Jenell this morning as they mourn the loss of their second and third babies. Three babies in heaven is three times too many. There is nothing I can say or do for them but pray. Pray that they find peace once again and perhaps a long time down the road, a kind of happiness. I pray that Obama really puts forth his act on a stillbirth registry.

I don't usually wax poetic on politics (except a cynical limerick here or there), but I have to say something about this.

I watched last night as a man who would have been owned in that country a little over a century ago was offered the highest position in the land. Only time will tell if he keeps his promises, but his impact has already been felt in a big way without him doing anything. I remember well learning about eugenics. I remember where African-Americans were placed on that hierarchy. Lacking intelligence and considered immoral, African-American people were the very dregs of society. No better than oxen or other beasts of burden. Last night, when a proud, gifted, humble, intelligent man took the stage and accepted the presidency it was like a light was turned on. Dreams that were once considered impossible were suddenly within reach, not only for African-Americans, but for anyone who has ever been oppressed. So that even I (so white I could be a beacon) could say too, "I have seen the promised land." Not because I need more privilege but because I believe that none of us are free until we are ALL free. I can now see a world where everyone is given a chance because those prejudices that once placed one person above another were laid to waste in one great gleaming burst. Certainly it will take a long time to convince others of the same. Yes there are those that will persist in thinking that they have some kind of innate superiority based on the colour of their skin, their background or their family. But this is the first of many momentous steps to come. This is the dawn.

Obama holds a lesson for all of us. If every child is capable of greatness if given the opportunity it is up to every adult to make sure that every child gets that opportunity.